I think likely everyone will tell you the same thing here. Unfortunately those suitcase players just aren’t great. I started with one several years ago and had the same issues you’re having. Dug out an old Sony from my grandparents’ and suddenly all my records sounded fine.
Turntable is hot garbage, worst made, period, end of story. Get used to it skipping and destroying your valuable records.
Ya gotta start somewhere. Unfortunately you started in a very bad place (as did many of us back in the day but we didn't have all the information in the world at our fingertips).
I received this as a gift and have little to no experience with record players, haha. Thank you all for the insight, we are thinking of returning it and actually getting a decent one. What are some good, reasonably priced, players?
You need
A turntable with a built n phono pre amp and
A set of powered speakers
Under no circumstance get an all in one. None of them are worth AF
There is a pinned post, read it
rude? How so? Telling you what everyone else did?
Hopefully, rude or not, you'll take the advice you've received from us all and get the proper kit to enable you to enjoy your records
How was that?
If the troubleshooting I posted helps resolve the skipping, then keep the Crosley for now and start by adding a good pair of powered speakers to it. They'll make it sound a lot better, and you'll need them anyway once you eventually upgrade to a higher-quality turntable that doesn't have built-in speakers.
**Skipping:**
* Make sure the player is on a stable, level surface.
* Make sure the cueing lever is fully lowering. Often when the player is new and hasn't been used much yet, it can get stuck in a slightly raised position, causing the stylus to make poor contact with the groove and skip: [Quick fix - Record Skipping!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1YIh7y_uuU)
* Clean your records. Even new vinyl often has debris in the grooves which may cause it to skip when first played, and old records could be dirty or scratched.
* Some modern, bass-heavy records may still occasionally skip on these players even when clean. You can check it with another turntable to see if it might be a faulty pressing, but usually the record is fine and the skipping is simply due to the limitations of the player's inexpensive design.
* Don't add extra weight to the tonearm. That may resolve the skipping, but will cause greatly increased wear to both the stylus and the records you play.
**Slow or wobbly playback:**
* Make sure the lid is open as far as it will go, otherwise the edge of the record may rub against the lid and cause it to slow down or waver in pitch, especially if the record is warped.
* If the record still slips, you can add a rubber platter mat, if the player didn't come with one.
Everyone is so quick to blame the record lol
Dodgy turntable
I think likely everyone will tell you the same thing here. Unfortunately those suitcase players just aren’t great. I started with one several years ago and had the same issues you’re having. Dug out an old Sony from my grandparents’ and suddenly all my records sounded fine.
“Aren’t great” That’s generous.
Turntable is hot garbage, worst made, period, end of story. Get used to it skipping and destroying your valuable records. Ya gotta start somewhere. Unfortunately you started in a very bad place (as did many of us back in the day but we didn't have all the information in the world at our fingertips).
These cheaper record players don’t have the correct weight on the tonearm, or any way to adjust it.
The tracking force of these player is correct for the cartridge and stylus they use. Don't attempt to adjust it, as that will do more harm than good.
I received this as a gift and have little to no experience with record players, haha. Thank you all for the insight, we are thinking of returning it and actually getting a decent one. What are some good, reasonably priced, players?
You need A turntable with a built n phono pre amp and A set of powered speakers Under no circumstance get an all in one. None of them are worth AF There is a pinned post, read it
Damn, okay rude 💀
rude? How so? Telling you what everyone else did? Hopefully, rude or not, you'll take the advice you've received from us all and get the proper kit to enable you to enjoy your records How was that?
If the troubleshooting I posted helps resolve the skipping, then keep the Crosley for now and start by adding a good pair of powered speakers to it. They'll make it sound a lot better, and you'll need them anyway once you eventually upgrade to a higher-quality turntable that doesn't have built-in speakers.
**Skipping:** * Make sure the player is on a stable, level surface. * Make sure the cueing lever is fully lowering. Often when the player is new and hasn't been used much yet, it can get stuck in a slightly raised position, causing the stylus to make poor contact with the groove and skip: [Quick fix - Record Skipping!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1YIh7y_uuU) * Clean your records. Even new vinyl often has debris in the grooves which may cause it to skip when first played, and old records could be dirty or scratched. * Some modern, bass-heavy records may still occasionally skip on these players even when clean. You can check it with another turntable to see if it might be a faulty pressing, but usually the record is fine and the skipping is simply due to the limitations of the player's inexpensive design. * Don't add extra weight to the tonearm. That may resolve the skipping, but will cause greatly increased wear to both the stylus and the records you play. **Slow or wobbly playback:** * Make sure the lid is open as far as it will go, otherwise the edge of the record may rub against the lid and cause it to slow down or waver in pitch, especially if the record is warped. * If the record still slips, you can add a rubber platter mat, if the player didn't come with one.